MSU players defend Izzo after screaming incident

DES MOINES, Iowa – Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo said he was surprised by the negative public reaction on his animated screaming to freshman forward Aaron Henry in the Spartans' first-round NCAA tournament win over Bradley.

" To me it was ridiculous the way it was up, "Izzo said Friday, a day before the Spartans second-round game against Minnesota." There's a 10-second soundbite and a two-year relationship (with Henry). I just think people don't understand that. This coach relies on relationships with his players I think more than any coach in the country. That's an egotistic or selfish statement, self-proclaimed. But I think it's been earned and it's been talked about.

Former Spartans star Draymond Green took on Twitter on Friday to share his thoughts on why his forms coach needed to be restrained

Just an FYI Being in those huddles for years. grabbed Iz so he could shut up and move on … after a while just ready for him to draw up the play. Just giving perspective from someone who's been apart of those huddles.

̵

1; Draymond Green (@ Money23Green ) [22459007] March 22, 2019

Heated exchanges during vulture "That's the territory we're playing in Michigan State basketball," Henry's teammate Xavier Tillman said. "If you make a mistake, you're going to get out of. That's nothing new. Everybody knows that. All the freshmen know that if you make a mistake, you're going to get coached. That's what you're here for. You are going to learn from your mistakes. [Henry] you were responding to the court. Aaron had a key bucket and made those two free throws.

"(Izzo is) a very emotional guy. You can find our team at the same time. OK, this is what he's saying, and now you have to go out and do that. I learned early on in my career here that it's not about how he says things, but it's about what he says. Tom Izzo's treatment of freshman guard Aaron Henry after a play in Michigan State's first round win over Bradley on Thursday was with with some public criticism. Jamie Squire / Getty Images

Michigan State guard Cassius Winston said it's a "badge of honor" to be a recipient or an Izzo rant.

"It can be tough at times," "Winston said." He's hard, but once you figure out what the message is and what she wants for you and from you, it gets a lot easier with him yelling at you. It's to challenge you to be the best player you can possibly be.

"It was a good point for Michigan State," Livers said as the Wolverines prepared for Saturday's second-round game against Florida, also in Des Moines. "My parents and I thought I didn't need to go somewhere I was going to be babied. It was a hard decision I had to make.

"I respect his style so much. "It's college basketball. If you're not going to get it, it means the coach has a child of as much as you give up."
Source link